An interesting and amusing sci-fi thriller

Rating: 7/10 (31 August 2005)

When you go to see a Michael Bay movie,you expect there to be a LOT of action and a so-so story. However,in the case of The Island,the story comes first(yes,there is some great action on the way,but the subject happens to be more intriguing).
The movie is set in 2019(same year as Blade Runner),in a utopian facility where thousands of people,who have survived the "great contamination",wait to win the lottery so they can go to the Island,the last remaining paradise on the planet. That is,until Lincoln Six Echo(Ewan Mcgregor)and Jordan Two Delta(Scarlett Johansson)escape after discovering the awful truth: they're all clones and when they win the lottery,it means their "sponsors" need new organs or something. This is where the fun begins,as Dr.Merrick(Sean Bean)hires Albert Laurent(Djimon Honsou)and his team to catch the two fugitives.
Michael Bay tackles the subject (cloning: should we or shouldn't we?)so that the film's never boring,while inserting his trademark action sequences to prove he still can do what Jerry Bruckheimer made him famous for.
Not as great as other sci-fi flicks,but still enjoyable.
As for the actors,Sean Bean does his usual job well,while Scarlett Johansson has done better.Mcgregor is quite good actually,particularly in the hilarious scenes between Lincoln and his Scottish "sponsor". The best one,however,is Steve Buscemi,as the only real "human" in the story("Jeez,why do I always have to be the one to tell the kids there is no Santa Claus?).